THE proposed lifting of the “quantitative restriction,” or QR, on rice has become a tense issue, pitting the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, which largely favors lifting the QR, against farmers’ advocates, who say that the restriction on rice imports is necessary support for the Philippines’ impoverished rice farmers.

QR is a special advantage given the Philippines under the World Trade Organization (WTO), which sets a limit on the amount of rice that can be imported at a reduced tariff. This amount, called the Minimum Access Volume (MAV), is set at 850,000 metric tons. Up to that amount, rice imports can only be charged a tariff of 35 percent; above that amount, the tariff can be 50 percent, plus the shipments must have the prior approval of the National Food Authority (NFA). Along with the QR allowance, the Philippine rice sector is also free from other WTO rules of agricultural liberalization.

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